Museums and galleries have been hailed as one of the "engine rooms" of Britain’s cultural industries by Sandy Nairne – director of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) – after statistics showed the cultural sectors generates over £8m an hour for the economy.

Government figures released last week show that the UK’s creative industries - which include the film, television and music sectors - are worth £71.4bn per year to the economy.

These industries as a whole grew by almost 10 per cent in 2012, outstripping all other sectors, and Nairne believes cultural attractions played a central role in the success. "Museums and galleries are one of the engine rooms of the cultural industries," he told Attractions Management magazine. "They offer crucial source material for artists, designers and innovators of all kinds. And as great magnets for visitors to Britain, they contribute a very direct uplift to the UK economy."

The ability of strong attractions to stimulate tourism makes them a central tenet of the culture sector at a time when Britain is bidding to cement its economic recovery.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller enthused about the creative industries’ potential to "showcase Britain to the world" and Nairne thinks the international reputation of the country’s museums and galleries played a role in driving the growth.

"For some years the UK has reaped the advantage of being one of the centres of the knowledge economy,” he adds.

"Like our universities and the BBC, our arts and cultural institutions are trusted worldwide."

But while the positive figures offer welcome cheer, government austerity cuts continue to loom large, meaning the industries are having to be increasingly creative in securing capital.

"Even though government resources are reduced, the input of the Lottery and some key foundations, as well as individual patronage, are crucial for the future," says Nairne. "What is required is ongoing investment and continued innovation."